Slain officers remembered at memorial service

Richard Kelly Special to Independent Mail
Abbeville County Sheriff Charles Goodwin, left, and Judge Thomas Ferguson, right, place wreaths at a monument honoring Sgt. Danny Wilson and Constable Donnie Ousts at the Abbeville County Law Enforcement Center.

Richard Kelly Special to Independent Mail
Amanda Moss, right, plays "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes as flags fly at half-staff at a memorial ceremony honoring Sgt. Danny Wilson and Constable Donnie Ousts at the Abbeville County Law Enforcement Center.

ABBEVILLE - A cloudy, cool and windy morning didn't keep people from standing outside Friday to attend the ninth annual memorial service for two slain Abbeville County law enforcement officers.

Abbeville County sheriff's Sgt. Danny Wilson and Constable Danny Ousts were killed in the line of duty on Dec. 8, 2003.

Rita Bixby, who was serving a life sentence for planning the ambush on her property that killed the two officers, died in September 2011 in prison, just one week after her husband, Arthur, who was accused of carrying out the ambush with their son, Steven.

Eighth Circuit Solicitor Jerry Peace said the U.S. Supreme Court has denied Steven Bixby's appeal request, which was his last line of appeal. Steven Bixby has been sentenced to death.

The emotional ceremony Friday honored the officers' lives and their sacrifice.

More than 70 members of law enforcement agencies joined family members and friends of the two officers, as well as the public, for the event. The ceremony lasted about 45 minutes and included speeches, bagpipe music and the placement of wreaths at the stone monument in honor of the two officers. Flags at the Abbeville County Law Enforcement Center flew at half-staff.

Abbeville County Sheriff Charles Goodwin spoke about how he and everyone who worked with the two officers missed the vibrant smiles they brought into work with them every day.

"They gave the ultimate sacrifice with their lives for Abbeville County," Goodwin said.

Pastor Waymon Coleman from Flat Rock AME Church spoke words of encouragement and had everyone join him in singing the first verse of "Hark the Herald Angels."

The pastor said there's always light in time of darkness and always joy in time of sadness.

"They (the officers) gave the essence of their life for the course of peace. They should always be remembered," Coleman said. "Their work lives on."

Coleman said the officers' deaths were not in vain and their influence could still be felt by people today in law enforcement by policy changes and procedures that have been made due to their deaths and those changes and procedures help to keep current officers safer on their jobs.

He said the two officers were devoted and dutiful until the very end and said, "They gave their selves so life can be better for others."

After the ceremony, Goodwin spoke about how the community came together after the officers' death's and raised enough money for a monument to be placed in front of the law enforcement center.

He said the monument was placed at the front door of the law enforcement center so everyone could see it as they walked in and remember their sacrifice.

"They were out front for us and we want to be out front for them," he said.

Wilson's sister, Marilyn Lee, said she was astonished by the turnout and the service was wonderful, adding it was one of the largest crowds she had seen at the memorial.

She said she was glad they still acknowledge them (the officers) and said they deserve all the recognition they get.

Goodwin said the county is working with state legislatures to obtain control of the property where the incident took place so the house can be torn down and turned into a memorial park in honor of the two officers.

Wilson and Ousts are the only two Abbeville County law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, Goodwin said.